Nick Van de Giesen: How High-Performance Computing resources help to predict rains in the heart of Africa

Nick van de Giesen is professor of Water Resources Management at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at TUDelft  University of Technology, located in the Netherlands. He is also the lead researcher for the Africa Rainfall Project, which is supported by the World Community Grid. This network is strengthened by Computing for Humanity.

From a congress in Austria, Nick van de Giesen gave us a fascinating story about his beginnings as a passionate in the study of natural resources. Since July 2004, he has been professor of Water Resources Management of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at the TUDelft University in the Netherlands. We could define him as a researcher with a clear mission in the world, a chaser of the rain in Africa.  According to him, the Africa Rainfall Project (ARP) is born from a simple truth: current weather forecasts for Africa are alarmingly unreliable. Imagine trying to plan your day with the accuracy of a Canadian 10-day forecast - it's virtually impossible. But why?

One reason is the scarcity of measurements. Without a clear understanding of today's weather, predicting tomorrow becomes a daunting task. To bridge this gap, he and his team are building a network of weather stations across Africa. But there's another challenge - much of Africa's rainfall is localized, occurring in intense, convective storms. “Predicting these storms requires not just data, but computational power on a massive scale”, he emphasizes.

Their mission is ambitious: for one year, the team aims to model Africa's rainfall at a resolution of just 1 kilometer - a feat never before attempted at such a scale. To achieve this, the team has divided the continent into smaller blocks and enlisted the help of volunteers worldwide. Each volunteer processes data for a designated area, and together, the pieces are stitched into a comprehensive picture of Africa's rainfall patterns. Without access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources, the project would be severely limited. They could conduct local experiments, but they would never achieve the comprehensive overview they strive for - the ability to answer the question, "What if?". Computing for Humanity's resources are especially valuable for networks like the World Community Grid, enabling scientific research, says Nick Van de Giesen.

When we asked why Africa? For him, it was a natural choice. “Much of my career has been dedicated to the continent, and I have witnessed firsthand the disproportionate impact of climate change on African societies. By improving weather forecasts, we can empower communities to better prepare for and adapt to the challenges ahead”, he says optimistically.

Also, he expresses, “As we move forward, I envision more involvement with African schools in our project, raising awareness among the next generation about the critical importance of understanding our environment”.  Last summer, this network with high schools led him to get recognition from the scientific organization, American Geophysical Union. “I think it was a positive surprise and a proud moment, but just from a science point of view. But it was not a moment because it took us more than 10 years to get there. That was difficult”.

 Reflecting on his research journey, he has encountered a fair share of challenges. “Conducting research in Africa comes with its obstacles - from limited infrastructure to scarce human resources. Yet, overcoming these challenges has only strengthened my resolve to make meaningful contributions to the scientific community”, he indicates.

When we asked how he plans and prioritizes research, the answer was “It is a delicate balance of opportunism and focus. I have learned to seize opportunities as they arise while staying true to my geographic focus on Africa. And to stay abreast of emerging trends, I rely on a mix of journal readings, conferences, and conversations with colleagues”.

Looking ahead, Nick van de Giesen's long-term goal is to ensure the sustainability of his projects, long after he retires. Whether he is based in Europe or traveling across continents, his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge remains unwavering.

Nick van de Giesen has a clear approach to the immense potential of High-Performance Computing and the great responsibility: “I would say think very well about what you want to achieve before you start because it is, in the beginning, all exciting and you think, a lot of data and we will do a lot of computations. But, it is very serious work. So you have to think very carefully about it, how much data you will generate, and what you will do with it, and then it can be very, very rewarding. He recommends that fellow researchers should keep these factors in mind before beginning their work.